by @BarryRafkind in City Finances, Investigative Reports, Traffic & Parking
Posted on February 25, 2010 at 9:17 am
Last Modified on March 7, 2010 at 9:30 pm
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The New England Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston University has taken an interest in our (Somerville Voices) proposed investigation of parking fines and has offered to analyze the ticket data for the amount of $500.
With this analysis, we’ll know how much revenue the city is getting from the 48-hour limit on parking in one place, how much from resident parking restrictions, from expired meters, and from all the other parking rules. We’ll find out which parts of the city bring in the most fines, and many other fascinating facts about parking in Somerville.
Please pledge $15 or whatever you can to help us reach our goal.
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I have mixed feelings with the way this is being done. I empathize with the feeling that enforcement is too agressive but I have never received a ticket in 7 years (so I think maybe at least some people should read).
I have a general feeling that too many people here assume whatever they do is OK and they hate being held accountable for their laziness (not bothering to figure out the rules) or selfishness (believing one is exception to rules). I see a lot of people parking illegally so I am glad there is at least some enforcement. We had a person abandon their care right in front of our living room window for 3 years and even as a laid back person it was aggravating as it was a “private way” and the city said there was nothing they could do. It may have been on a public way but remember a woman almost died in Somerville a few years ago because there were so many illegally parked vehicles the fire crew could not get at the hydrant or even into the street.
One person mentioned the importance of “limiting misuse” and I agree with that but the problem as I see it (which is much more prominent in the Boston area) is the notion that whatever one does is legitimate so ANY fine is treated as some sort of tyranny. In fact, I wish Somerville would fine people a lot MORE for moving violations. While I have live in Somerville for about 9 years total, I am amazed at the “misuse” of roadways by moving vehicles (speeding, not stopping at signs/lights, making up their own rules, ignoring marked pedestrian crossings, etc.). I am only suggesting if Somerville is issuing too many tickets (that has not been my experience but then again I attempt to follow posted rules instead of getting angry about rules after I choose to ignore them) that part of the revenue could be gotten back through other ways and moving violations is a suggestion (because the public safety aspect will be much greater).
I am not totally unsympathetic to some of the commenters who feel they have been wronged but please refrain from some of the more mindless and thoughtless advocacy of “doing whatever you want”.
I love the idea of using data though as I am sure you (and thus we) will discover a whole host of things you were not even looking for.
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Fred, what have you heard on this blog saying that all fines are tyranny or that someone felt he or she was above the law?
Thanks for your interest in our data analysis project and I hope you’ll consider pledging to help us close the gap on our last 20% of the campaign.
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folks might enjoy this overview of the statutory scheme and fiscal implications of Somerville’s enforcement of on-street parking regulations, circa 2003, authored by William F. Lyons Jr, who was Somerville’s Director of Traffic & Parking under Kelly Gay administration : http://www.neite.org/The%20Chronicle/03-03.pdf
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Regrettably, it’s taking even longer to analyze the parking ticket records than it took to obtain them. The biggest reason for this is the fact that my family and I bought a house over the Summer and the move has been a huge distraction. Only recently has the SV team been able to resume communications with the staff at NECIR to pick up where we left off. We hope to have some results to share soon. Thanks for your patience!
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